TSN-ESPN GROUP BACK IN THE PICTURE FOR LABATT'S TV ASSETS

"After playing the field for better offers," Labatt and its
buyer-to-be Interbrew S.A. of Belgium "is poised" to sell The
Sports Network and Labatt's other broadcast properties to a group
headed by TSN management, according to sources cited by today's
TORONTO SUN. Others in the group include ESPN, Stephen Bronfman
and Jeremy Reitman. Other bidders include Alliance
Communications, Baton Broadcasting and CanWest Global
Communications. Sources say the TSN group "did not sweeten its
offer" -- said to have been C$600M -- but that it wasn't matched
by the other bidders (Rob Longley, TORONTO SUN, 7/14). Polar
Communications, a radio syndication company, has warned potential
buyers of its C$3M suit against TSN for "misappropriation" of
Polar's radio network (William Houston, GLOBE & MAIL, 7/14).